Short Stories

© Wendy Noble

Prologue
To wed his beloved Rachel, Jacob willingly served her father, Laban, seven years.  When the contracted time was over he eagerly claimed his bride. Family and friends gathered for a great wedding feast and at the end of the evening the happy throng escorted the bridal couple to their marriage tent.

Jacob
I came to the plains of Paddan Aram, to the land of the eastern peoples, searching for a safe haven.  My brother, Esau, threatened murder over the loss of his birth-right and my mother thought it best if I stayed for a while in the household of Uncle Laban.  It would provide time for Esau’s anger to cool and while I was there I could search for a bride among my uncle’s people.

So many times my mother told me of how it was for her; going to the well to water the flocks and meeting Eliezer there; going back with him to wed my father. When Rachel came with her sheep to the well that bright afternoon, I thought God had brought her to me, just as he had brought my mother to Eliezer those many years before.

There was no logic to it.  How do you plan for love? I could no more stop the yearning of my heart than I could stop the wind blowing sand across the dunes. When Uncle agreed to our marriage I thought I would burst with joy. After seven long years our wedding day had finally come.  At last my beautiful Rachel would be mine.

In the morning, in the light of day, I found Leah sharing my pillow. At that moment of discovery, so help me God, I wanted to kill her. Dragging Leah with me I ran to Laban screaming and cursing as I went. “What have you done to me? You deceived me! Where is my Rachel?  I worked for seven long years for Rachel! You promised me Rachel and you gave me this!”

He made a pathetic excuse about a local custom of marrying the eldest first. As if that would explain his treachery. He had seven years to tell me; seven years to explain this ‘custom’.  He never said a word. I insisted he keep his promise and as he didn’t want to lose face in front of the gathering crowd, he proposed another deal. If I consented to give Leah her marriage week I could have Rachel as well.  Even so, I must serve him seven more years.  He knew I would agree to anything to have her.

What a tangled mess this is. Where are you now, God of Bethel?  If this is your idea of blessing me, save me from your curses.

What were you thinking, Laban? What made you do it? You’re a man of substance. You could have bought a husband for Leah.

You wait old man, I’ll have the last laugh.  The years I lived with Esau and my father taught me how to play the waiting game. One day I’ll go home with your sheep, goats and donkeys, and your camels laden with wives, children and goods and then we’ll see.  I’ve already got my Rachel and believe me, I’ll get the rest.

Rachel
I saw Jacob first. He was standing by the well in the glare of the afternoon sun. He greeted me with a kiss and called me cousin. He was so handsome, so polite and so very strong.  When I ran to get father I thought, ‘This is what happened to Aunt Rebekah, only I have done better.  She met the servant but I have met the man.”

I knew straight away he wanted me. I have always been beautiful.  Every-one says so.  Leah is plain and prays all the time.  He barely noticed she existed and why should he?

He asked Father for me.  Me! We waited for seven long years while he worked to earn my hand in marriage.  Father had seven long years to find Leah a man. It’s not right!  Why should she be his wife?

I spent the day preparing for my wedding and as I stood in my mother’s tent, the centre of attention, Father ordered the servants to tie me to the tent pole. I didn’t understand. Then he told me his plan. I pleaded, prayed and wept, but for the first time in my life I couldn’t change Father’s mind.  I heard the music and smelt the roasting meat and I screamed, “It should be me!  He loves me!” I tried not to think of the two of them together but my thoughts kept circling their tent. I thought I would die from weeping.

But I’m laughing now.  Everyone in camp witnessed Jacob’s anger and disgust. He didn’t want her.  I’m the one he loves. I’m the one he desires.  He’s courteous and kind to Leah so she’ll have a pleasant life.  She won’t have to spend her life as a dried up old maid.  What more could she expect?

One day I’ll make Father pay for this.

Leah
He came here all innocence and manners but I wasn’t blinded by his handsome face.  I kept my eyes open. He’d been in some sort of trouble. I saw his eyes shifting sideways whenever he spoke of his home. He was always respectful to Father, and worked diligently with the flocks, but I knew what he was about with his eyes following her.  He was just like all the others, panting after Rachel.  But I loved him anyway.

When Father told me his plan I did as I was told.  You don’t know him. I couldn’t have refused, even if I wanted. He said God had decreed it so I hoped that, given time, Jacob would grow to love me too.

He had no idea.  Heady with victory and blinded by lust he didn’t guess it was me under all those veils. For one night I knew what it is to be loved, even though he whispered her name.  Then, it was morning. I thought I would die.

I see them whisper behind their hands when I pass their tents. I know what they’re thinking.  I’m not loved or desired; just pitied and endured.

Why can’t his eyes follow me?  I want his mouth to go dry when I enter the tent. I want my name to be whispered in the night. They feast on each other and I gather crumbs from their table. How did I offend you, Lord, that I should be cursed with such kindness?

Epilogue
When Leah gave birth to her first son, Reuben, she said, “Surely Jacob will love me now.”  At Simeon’s birth she said, “The Lord gave me this son too, because he knows I am not loved.”  After Levi was born she said, “Maybe now I will become dear to my husband.” At the birth of Judah she was thankful for another son but no longer hoped for anything more.

THE END

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